In Caught Stealing, we follow Hank, a former Major League Baseball prospect who lost his chance at glory in a tragic accident and has been on the run ever since. Soon, he won’t be able to escape his emotions or bad habits as he gets caught in a criminal enterprise after agreeing to look after his neighbour’s cat. This sends him on a journey where he navigates and survives under threat of Jewish and Russian mafia members while attempting to keep those he loves safe.
Hank’s background as a Major League Prospect is interesting with how it’s reincorporated. His life very much drives him as a character and the details that we get from the brief glimpse in his past shows why he cannot move forward and why he makes decisions that are not often the most advantageous to his situations. The weight of potentially being close to being a hometown hero, a rich and famous man who could do what he loved for a living is a strong longing (and one he never really strays from). Yet, his serious athletic background and motivation to win helps us believe that a man who really has only kept to himself is able to step up and survive multiple dangerous and trained criminals who threaten him. We see how his athleticism helps him slide under punches and obstacles, his ability to swing the bat and knowledge of baseball saves him in a couple of scenarios. We also see a memory in a very smart way with visuals where he learns and faces his mistakes in order to make a better way for himself.
Every way Hank escapes or gets into trouble, despite feeling coincidental, never betrays his character. We see throughout the film that Hank is scared of both commitment and facing his mistakes and problems. There are heavy consequences for this and the film is not afraid to show what terrifying things can happen to those who do not take dangerous situations seriously. What is inspiring is his progress towards finding peace. We go towards emotional resolutions that are fulfilling for his character as they are satisfying for the audience.
To fit all the details that are given to Hank, Austin Butler gives what I consider to be his finest performance. He brings the screen presence and confidence that a former top athlete would have while never shying away from the raw emotion that this terrible situation gives him. He has a swagger that makes him endearing in his most bold (but also illogical) moments, giving us a character that we can both admire and pity. We admire him because of how much he cares. He truly goes to the ends of the earth to save who he loves. He also has a softness that makes his time with the cat even more endearing to him.
Yes, he literally saves the cat. (For those who are familiar with the Screenwriting book.)
The film features a great ensemble that helps make every character sharp and pronounced. They blend right into this hyper realistic New York with its distinct locations full of personality that fit the city’s diversity and the many cultures. Regina King is a hardened cop from the projects who is given nuance and an intelligence that makes her a threat to many characters. Lieb Scherieber is one of two Hebrew mafia members who bring a lot of humour but are also intimidating to everyone else. Nikita Kukushkin is a standout member of the Russian mob who despite short stature brings a lot of humour and brutal physicality to his role. Even Hank’s neighbour, Duane, is very funny. He contrasts the charismatic and larger than life character of Russ, played by Matt Smith, a British neighbour who, when he leaves and loans Hank his cat, gets him in a whole lot of trouble. Zoe Kravitz also brings fierceness and a sense of emotional care for Hank as his short term girlfriend Yvonne.
What keeps the film going is the strong sense that anything could happen to the characters. The hyper-realistic tone allows for moments of comedy and a good amount of jokes to land strongly, despite the amount of stress and violence that is baked into Hank’s situation. It balances tones quite well, never alienating the comedy that comes from the absurd situations Hank finds himself in and makes the action high stakes at the same time.
A very solid sense of structure gives this film constant fuel. The great aspect of screening writing that this film pulls off is using its constant moving parts in new fun ways. Stealing has a very smart script but also finds its characters making very rash decisions which while not betraying their impulses. (Having said this, it’s also worth noting that some dramatic moments felt they could have had more weight behind them. The consequences could have been stronger and had more weight as other than Hank it doesn’t feel like we get enough time with anyone to truly care about them.)
There is a great sense of detail brought to the production design. Some details that might have been more fleshed out in the book are kept to the sets and production, which are very well done. Cats, colour, and other New York staples are chosen mostly for entertainment but are always popping in the frame. As a 1998 period piece, it makes the most of the unique New York setting it places itself in, ensuring an engrossing world that is fascinating to look at. Combined with Aronofsky’s sense of style, this attention to detail creates interesting camera shots, fun symmetrical framing and various unique camera angles that reflect both the story and different points of view. Many of the images are quite memorable and images pop in a way that is eye-catching but never distracts from the heart of the story.
The sound design is detailed and carries weight, making the ringing of gun shots or the gore of wounds become pronounced. The violence carries weight and the sound is a big part of that. The way that the sound is mixed, relative to our protagonist Hank, is receives close attention. We actually hear things how they would hear them. (However, the only weakness of this choice is that it does result in some muddled dialogue.)
There’s not much more to say as far as a messaging as Caught Stealing is very much invested in delivering a fun popcorn movie experience. If you are looking for severe commentary on something, you wouldn’t really be finding that. There are some longing questions about the effect of trauma, sports and the difficulty of self-regulation for the audience to ponder. Most of it comes from simply how you relate to Hank and his situation. The film never forces you to ask deeper questions but you may have lots of questions for how Hank handles himself. Your answers would be your own and I hope you look for them. Personally, I thought the allure that people put into sports and other glorified jobs as shown in this movie gets the audience to think about how much people may waste time thinking of what could have been instead of chasing what could be attained. This doesn’t just mean in one’s career though. In Caught Stealing, it’s also about learning to care for others and, for Hank, it’s about learning to care for those who cling to you.
Caught Stealing is available in theatres on Friday, August 29th, 2025.
